Community Matters

(Community Matters) Steven’s taking a little break

lunch on Wall Street

(Community Matters) . . . . awards in Austin. Are going to be way cool. @ the Four Seasons, terrific production informed by Victoria Hentrich and David Kurio, a rocking after party at the Trio, fantastic honorees (Amy & Kirk Rudy, James Armstrong, Larry Connelly), a most-fun, hard working event committee – we met last night at the Land/Adler home. So much good stuff . . . .

(Community Matters) Wow, love reading this. Suggests my dear friend Bryan Jones on the right path . . .

SAN FRANCISCO — Google Inc. is buying mobile advertising network AdMob for $750 million, underscoring the Internet search leader’s determination to ensure that its marketing machine reaches the growing number of people surfing the Web on phones.

The all-stock deal announced Monday also represents the latest sign that Google’s leaders are feeling better about the economy’s direction, encouraging them to spend more freely after clamping down this year.

The AdMob acquisition would be Google’s most expensive purchase since it bought online ad service DoubleClick for $3.2 billion in March 2008.

Bryan, we should take your DAF up to a full 1%. You’ll wish you had if this happens – imagine the power to do good

(Community Matters) hard to believe the Wall first fell 20 years ago, though it was back & forth for months. I remember scaling to the top of the wall at the Brandenburg Gate, standing up and looking over both sides. I also remember scurrying down pretty quickly after East German rifles were pointed at me.

(Community Matters) Interesting polling of Texans at Texas Tribune.ORG

. . . . other issues:

Texas remain split over illegal immigration, with 50 percent saying undocumented workers should be deported and 41 percent saying those workers should be given a chance to keep their jobs and to apply for citizenship.

Texans oppose “cap and trade” legislation that would limit companies’ greenhouse gas emissions by a margin of 37 to 44. But they support government requirements to make residential, commercial, and industrial buildings energy efficient.

They’re split on the quality of public education in Texas: 48 percent consider it “not very good” or “terrible.” But 47 percent consider the schools “excellent” or “good”.

They’re split on abortion and choice, with groups of similar size saying women should always be able to abortions and that it should only be allowed in cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother.

Finally, in answer to a question that’s been in the news, 52 percent of Texas voters say it’s not appropriate for a governor to remove a sitting appointee from office for political reasons. Only 26 percent think the governor should do that.

The Internet survey of 800 registered voters was conducted October 20-27 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.46 percent.

(Community Matters) Another Sunday night on Wheeler

On our first date, we connected over the concept of feeding and talking with students in our home

(Community Matters) Why can’t the Senate still declare the healthcare reform bill a reconciliation bill and pass it with 51 votes?

(Community Matters) We don’t question the loyalty or our safety from Christians, when a lone one goes postal. Why would we do so against Muslims?

(Community Matters) I suppose in our 30s we had those sitcom-ish moments. Though, I was talking about last night’s dinner – 4 hours around the table, a home cooked meal, though it wasn’t about the food – Julia’s herb embedded & encrusted, roasted pork loin, Alice’s summer zucchini, a Michigan wild rice, simple, crunchy asparagus, and Lulu’s pears poached in red wine served with ice cream or frozen yogurt. Sonya Cohen Cramer was our guest of honor. Margo Weisz, Gregory Brooks, Jill McRae, Stephen Yelenosky and Michael Mitchel joined us. Especially delicious conversation & friends.

(Community Matters) Trish Young Brown, Tim Young, Nick, Joel, Drew & Greg Brown celebrated their son’s/borther’s life yesterday at Umlauf Sculpture Gardens with 300ish friends and supporters. It was a very moving service. Jared Michael Young was a very moving young man.

(Community Matters) Our dear friend Sonya Cohen Cramer is our house guest – has been for a couple of nights. Admittedly, I’ve not been a very attentive host, though we are good enough friends where this is allowed. This afternoon, we’ll drink wine and slow cook food for a casual dinner with mutual close friends.

Sonya & her daughter, Dio at the National Portrait Gallery
w/ me & Steven a couple of weeks ago

Sonya, Reid, Gabel & Dio
at the Lincoln Memorial Concert for the Inauguration

(Community Matters) Celebrated equality, fairness & justice at the Anti-Defamation League’s Houston Torch of Liberty Awards Wednesday night with Jan Soifer, Adrienne Donato, Kirk Rudy, Jeff Newberg, Louvon Harris, Tiffany Taylor & Victor McDonald (our table).

The mission of ADL is to stop the defamation of the Jewish people, to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike.

David & Rochelle Merfish Jacobson

Rochelle was recognized as this year’s Torch of Liberty recipient, the highest honor bestowed by the ADL on extraordinary community leaders and philanthropists. Rochelle’s a political colleague; we spent some time together in DC recently. She’s a ubiquitous philanthropist in Houston, funding all sorts of good work – especially through ADL and Planned Parenthood.

Louvon Harris & Tiffany Taylor

Louvon is James Bryd Jr’s’ sister, Tiffany his niece. James is the man chained to a truck and dragged through the East Texas streets until he was dead. He is one of the two namesakes of the Matthew Shepard & James Bryd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Louvon and I met in DC last week at the White House ceremony celebrating the new legislation. I’m so excited she’s sending me a copy of her mother’s book, Hope Amidst Despair, A Grieving Mother Speaks.

Jan Soifer & Victor McDonald

Jan’s a dear friend with a heart as big as a pumpkin. She’s also a colleague on the Austin ADL executive committee. I sat next to Victor, first time to meet. He’s a businessman, a former financial worker. Though, after the Enron implosion, he and a friend launched an ice cream truck business. While driving the truck near Tomball, he was attacked and beaten by three white supremacists. He told me the ADL helped him imensely.

Many thanks to Stacey Fields, David Goldstein, Martin Cominsky & Scott Atlas for their gracious hospitality. Kirk & I chatted all the way back; the drive felt like only 30 minutes.

Can’t wait to celebrate Kirk & Amy with the Austin ADL Torch of Liberty Award and James Armstrong & Larry Connelly with our Humanitarian Award on January 28th at the Four Seasons. Victoria Hentrich and David Kurio on board to help produce the event. We’re planning a very fun after party too, including good friends who can’t make the dinner.

Shelley Zausmer my co-chair for the event. Steve Adler our board chair and spiritual leader. Marcia Levy in charge of development with Jeff Newberg reaching out to supporters and friends to join us. Lynn Meredith, Marc Winkelman, Alexa Wesner & Adrienne Donato helping there too. Dave Shaw, Michael Feferman & Judy Waxman in charge of messaging and public relations. Doug Ulman, Jan Soifer, Diane Land, Audrey & Ray Maislin, Mark Salmanson, Julie Thornton, Lily Saad, Robyn Spertus and Judy Berkowitz also on the event committee. Total fun & all rock stars. Event shouldn’t be missed.